Tent cabin



0a. 29, 1935. T s ASTNER 2,018,945

TENT CABIN Filed April 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 15 g/ -30 zg Invenior A hwlsAiio n ys Oct. 29, 1935. T, CASTNER 2,018,945

TENT CABIN Filed April 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 PATENT OFFICE TENT CABIN Theron .S. (lastner, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Nina O. Castner, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 18, 1934, Serial No. 721,199

Claims.

This invention relates to knock-down, portable building structures and it relates more particularly to'tent cabins, which can be quickly set up and moved'from place to place, if desired.

"'5 It is the general object of this invention to provide a novel, inexpensive, knock-down tent rcabin. which can be quickly erected with ease, which can 'be stored in small compass andwhich "can be readily transported from one point to 10 another.

"More specificially it is an object of the invention to'provide a tent cabin including walls made from'a' multiplicity of sections, readily attachable I means for holding the sections together and a fabric roof supported'in tautly stretched condition over the Walls and from the walls without use of rafters.

To these ends, generally stated, the invention 7 consists in the novel parts and novel combinations of parts hereinafter defined in the claims and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the I the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

'Fig. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating a tent cabin embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, portions of the roof being broken away and the jack being "shown in section to more clearly illustrate other parts of the tent cabin;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line'3'3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing in detail a corner or the tent cabin, the roof being removed;

7 is a broken plan view illustrating a modi- -fie'd' form or yoke that may be used;

Fig."8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8' of Fig. 7, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig."9"is a section taken on'the line 99 o-f Fig. 7, as indicated" by the arrows.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated'in Figs. 1 to 6, there are provided at-"multiplicity of rectangular building sections TH), which are vertically disposed at the four sides of a rectangle with the edges of adjacent sections in abutment to form the. side walls of a building structure. These various sections ID, in etheillustrated embodiment, each includes a rec- 5 tangular frame Illa, the side rails of which are connected intermediate the ends thereof by a cross bar lob. A panel I00 fills the space from the cross bar I 0b between the side rails downwardly to the lower cross piece of the frame, while screening I0d covers the rectangular space ill formed between the two side rails from the cross bar I 012 upwardly to the top cross piece of the frame. It will of course be understood that within the scope of the invention, panels may be substituted for the screens id or screens maybe 10 substituted for the panels lllc, or the detailed construction of the sections IU may be otherwise "varied as desired. One or more of the sections l0, distinguished from its fellows by the numeral I 0', may be utilized as a door and this section 15 I0 is connected by hinges ll toone edge of an adjacent section In in such manner that the door 10' may swing inwardly.

The various sections In forming the various sides of the structure are held in assembled rela- 20. tion by means of lower bars I 2 and upper bars I 3 removably secured as by bolts M to the respective lower and upper edges of the various sections l0 at the outer sides thereof. Of course the bars I2 and I3 will have no connection with the door section 10. The upper bars l3 have rounded outer edges, as best shown in Fig. 3, for 'a purpose presently to appear.

Diagonal-corner brackets I5 are secured to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower edges of 30 the sections l0 forming the corners of the structure, and these brackets as shown may be conveniently formed from channel iron having projecting tongues attached to the corner sections l0. Centrally located relative to the four upper 35 corner brackets I5 is a yoke I 6 which, in the present embodiment, is of ellipse-shape and is constructed of channel iron disposed so that the central web of the channel iron is inwardly disposed and the flanges of the channel iron project 40 outwardly. A turnbuckle I! having eyes formed at the two ends of the screw rods is positioned within the yoke I6 and V-shaped flexible cables l8 connected at their ends respectively, to the .upper corner brackets l5 at corresponding ends 45 of the structure project through slots Ilia formed in the central web of the yoke l6 and these cables also extend through the eyes formed on the screw rods of the turnbuckle H. The lengths of the cables l8 are adjustable and for this purpose the 60 cables near their outer ends are passed through openings in the upper corner brackets l5 and clamping blocks I9 are connected to the end portions of the cables to bear against the outer surfaces of the brackets 15. The slots l6a are quite wide so as to permit the central portions of the cables |8 to move longitudinally of the yoke I6 without bendingthe cables as the turnbuckle I1 is adjusted. Brace rods preventing the walls formed by the sections Hi from buckling as'the' turnbuckle I7 is drawn up, are provided, and these rods 20 bear at their inner ends against the intermediate web of the yoke l6 and they bear at their outer ends against the upper'portions of certain of the sections H] forming parts-of the various walls of the structure. The rods 20 are releasably connected at their ends to the yoke l6 and f to the sections I 0 against which they bear in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment,

the outer ends of the rods2|lare provided withcaps 2| screwed onto these ends and bolts 22 run and preferably of channel construction having its 7 intermediate web lowermost and its side flanges upwardly disposed. Connected to a central hub formed on the jack support 24 is an upwardly extending .jack which in the illustrated embodiment consists of a turnbuckle 25, one screw rod of which is attached to the said hub and the.

other screw rod of which is connected. to a pipe 26 connected to a T-fitting 2|,' the said T-fitting carrying pipes 28 which project toward the end 'walls of the structure and have downwardly curved end portions. I 7 A rectangular frame 29 formed of rods or pipe connected by pipe fittings encircles the walls of the structure near the upper portions thereof in outwardly spaced relation therefrom, and this frame is suitably supported from the lower bars.

I2 as by means of diagonal supporting'ro ds or pipes 30 which are connected at their upper ends to the frame 29 and are flattened at their lower ends and are secured at their lower ends to the sections ID to form the side and end walls. It

bars |2 as by certain of'the bolts l4. I

'A pitched roof 3| for the structure is formed from canvas orothe'r strong,,flexible fabric and. this roof has a reinforcing strip 32 secured to its central portion at its under side. which over:

lies and rests. on the pipes 28 of thejack. The

various edgesof the'roof 3| projectbeyond the upper edges of the walls formed by the sections Hi and are formedwith elongated tubular pockets 3|a within which the rods of the frame 29 are 7 removably secured. Secured to the roof canvas 3| immediately above the upper edges of the walls of the's'tructure, are" long strips 33 preferably 'jand'hanging downwardly 'to form flaps.

stitched at theirupperedges to the roof canvas At spaced points longitudinally of these strips 33, short straps 34 equipped 'with'buckles 35 are provided'and the strapsfi are attached to the outer surfaces of the flaps. For cooperation with 'the buckles 35" straps 36 are provided and these straps 3B are attached at their lower ends to the lower outeredges of theupper bars 13 and *they are, of course, provided with a number of openings for engagement with the 'buckles 35.

In erecting the structure the lower andupper bars l2 and 13 will first be secured by the bolts |4 to the various sections 10 forming the different sides of the structure-The walls will then be raisedvertically and the corner brackets 5 lwillbe attached. Cables l8 running through-the slots |6a of'the'yoke l6 and also passing through the eyes or theturnbuckle 1 will then be secured to the upper corner brackets l5 and the struts formed by the brace rods 20 will be attached. The turnbuckle will then be tightly drawn up to tension the'cables 8, thereby causing the corners of the wall structure to be drawn inwardly toward "5 the center of the structure, the brace 'rods20 acting to prevent the walls from buckling as the "cables l8 are tightened. The jack formed by theturnbuckle' 25, pipe 26, fitting 21 and pipes 28 will,jof course, be erected on the jack base 24 10 and the various rods of the frame 29 willbe carried through the tubular pockets 3|a of the can-'' vas roof 3| whereupon the frame 29 can be completely assembled; The' canvas roof 3| having its edges attached to the frame 29ymay then be 1 carried over the walled structure whereupon the supporting rods 30 may be engaged with the frame29 and attached at their lower ends'to the lowerbars I2. The straps 36 will then be engaged through theflmedium of the jack, the yoke IS, the

turnbuckle H, the cables l8 and the upper corner brackets l5. No central pole for supportingv the 8. canvas roof is. necessary and no rafters are needed for supporting the roof. The yoke |6,'. cables I8, turnbuckle brace rods 23 and the jack'tie the various parts together and brace the various parts in exceedingly simple manner. 35

.The entire "structure can be erected in a very short period of time and it can be disassembled as quickly; The various parts are light and can be stored away in smallcompass when not in use or they can be transported from'one site to 0 another readily.

The width and length of the structure can be easily varied by utilizing more or less 'of, the

will be appreciated that the structure of the yoke "It can be varied considerably to permit utilization ofrany number of brace rods2|| andto permit the useof any number of jacks similar to that illustrated. c r g In'Figs. '7, 8 and 9,'a slightly modified type 5 of structure for tying together and bracing the parts is shown to take the place of the yoke l6.

"turnbuckle cables l8, jack base 24 andbrace rods 20. Referring to Figs. 7 8 and 9, a yoke 31 is provided which consists of two parallel spaced channel irons 31a secured together in spaced relation by means of blocks 3117. Near the ends'of the yoke, sheaves 38 are located between the two bars 3111; these sheaves being mounted for rotation on pivots 39'attached to the two'bars. Cables 30 40 attached at their outer ends to the corner bracket l5 extend between'the two bars'31a or the yoke and over the sheaves 38. Each of the cables 40 is madein' two sections, the two sections 10f which are connected together by means of turnbuckles 4|. Brace rods 42 corre spondingto the brace rods 20 are connected to thesides and the'ends of the yoke, 31. Jacks 43 corresponding to the jackspreviously described are mounted preferably near the two ends of the yoke 31 in upstanding relation and these two structure shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, each cable 40 is individually tightened by its turnbuckle 4|.

Although the tent cabin of the invention is particularly adapted for use in warm climates or as an auxiliary cottage or outing cabin for summer use, it can be utilized for many other purposes, such for example as a garage, a shed, a storehouse, etc.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. A knock down tent cabin, having in combination a multiplicity of rectangular building sections assembled together in juxtaposition to form four vertical joining walls, bars holding said sections at top and bottom assembled in such relation, a pitched fabric roof overlying said walls and means supported from the upper corners of said four walls and in turn supporting the central portion of said roof without use of rafters.

2. A tent cabin having in combination four vertical walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle, a pitched fabric roof overlying said walls, flap strips of flexible material attached at their upper edges to said roof above and adjacent the upper edges of said walls, straps connecting said flap strips to the upper edges of said walls and tightly holding said strips against the upper edges of said walls and means for supporting the central part of said roof.

3. A tent cabin comprising four vertical walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle, a yoke centrally disposed relative to said walls, cables connected to the corners of said walls and supporting said yoke, a jack supported from said yoke, a pitched fabric roof centrally supported by said jack and overlying said walls and means for anchoring the edges of said roof.

4. A tent cabin comprising four vertical walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle, a yoke centrally disposed relative to said walls, cables connected to the corners of said walls and running through said yoke, means for tightening said cables, a jack supported from said yoke, a fabric roof centrally supported by said jack and overlying said walls and means for anchoring the edges of said roof.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, and braces extending from said yoke to the upper portions of said walls.

6. A tent cabin comprising four vertical walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle and connected together, a yoke centrally disposed relative to said walls, a pair of cables connected respectively at their ends to the upper corners of opposing walls and having central portions extending through said yoke, said yoke having slots receiving the central portions of said cables, a tightening device connecting the central portions of said two cables, a jack supported by said yoke, a fabric roof supported at its center by said jack and overlying said walls and means for anchoring the edges of said roof.

7. A tent cabin comprising four vertical walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle and connected together, a yoke centrally disposed relative to said Walls, sheaves carried at the ends of said yoke, a pair of cables connected respectively at their ends to the upper corners of opposing walls and having central portions running over said sheaves, means for tightening said cables, a jack suported by said yoke, a fabric roof supported at its center by said jack and overlying said walls and means for anchoring the edges of said roof.

8. A tent cabin comprising in combination a multiplicity of rectangular building sections disposed vertically at the sides of a rectangle to form four joining walls, upper and lower bars connecting together the upper and lower edges of the sections forming the various walls, said bars being disposed at the outer sides of said sections and the upper bars having rounded outer edges, a fabric roof overlying said walls, means for supporting said roof at its central portion, flap strips of flexible material attached to said roof above and adjacent the upper edges of said walls and interengaging straps connected respectively to said strips and to said upper bars for drawing said strips into tight engagement with the upper edges of said upper bars and holding the same.

9. A knock down tent cabin comprising in combination a plurality of rectangular building sections, said sections being set up vertically to form four walls disposed at the sides of a rectangle, upper and lower bars connecting the sections forming the respective walls, a yoke centrally disposed relative to said walls, braces extending between said yoke and said walls, cables connected to the upper corners formed by said wall and passing through said yoke, means for tightening said cables, a jack supported by said yoke and projecting above the same, a fabric roof centrally supported by said jack, overlying said walls and having edges projecting beyond said walls, a rectangular frame connected to the edges of said 50 

